Winderman's view: Heat 95, Spurs 88

MIAMI — Observations from Thursday night's 95-88 NBA Finals Game 7 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena:

Thank you, NBA season.

Where amazing happened.

And not just by the Heat.

If the Heat finished the season No. 1, the Spurs were No. 1A.

By the midpoint of the third quarter, all South Florida pharmacies had run out of antacids.

Back and forth it went.

Theater as riveting as the NBA could offer.

When's Game 8?

LeBron James answered all questions.

He was built for this moment, and did not disappoint.

Dwyane Wade found a way to step up, as well.

But Chris Bosh was called for his third foul with 7:46 left in second quarter. That was big.

He wasn't there.

A Big Two. That's all.

While Chris Andersen can do many things, stopping Tim Duncan one-on-one is not one of them.

Udonis Haslem actually does that reasonably well, so he got back into the rotation Thursday.

But Duncan kept finding a way.

Interestingly, the Spurs started with Tony Parker guarding Mike Miller, with Danny Green on Mario Chalmers.

But within the first six minutes the Heat were without a point guard, with Ray Allen entering for Chalmers.

Such is the luxury when LeBron can defend Parker.

Ray Allen was shaky, though.

Part of that was Allen again trying to play too often off the dribble.

The Heat attempted 14 3-pointers in the first half but only three free throws, all by LeBron.

And this had nothing to do with officiating.

The Spurs, by contrast, were 14 of 15 from the line in the first half, including 13 of 13 in the second period.

Shane Battier played the role of Mike Miller early on, as that regression to the mean finally arrived for Battier. This time in a good sense.

Yes, a headband for LeBron.

But also a 1-of-5 start for LeBron, who again was not particularly decisive early.

And then started to settle for 3-pointers.

But then he started to make them.

Yes, two shoes to start for Miller.

Spoelstra, pregame, on how LeBron has been able to compartmentalize in moments of peak stress, such as a Game 7, "Practice. That's the world he's lived in. This was an adjustment for us three years ago when we always looked out into a sea of people like this. I'll still always remember that first training camp. LeBron was doing that since he was in seventh grade. So he probably knows how to manage this world better than any of us before he even got to us."

Spoelstra, on how he went through the whole season without using the word "repeat," stressing this as a unique experience, "Well, the one thing for sure is it's absolutely different. This feels much, much different than last year. And that's the point. It's never the same. It's always the most difficult thing you'll ever do collectively."

Popovich, pregame, "There's no eighth game, is there? This is the last game. That's the best news I've heard all day."

Popovich, asked pregame if he could appreciate a Game 7, "It's torture. It's hard to appreciate or enjoy torture."

Asked then why put himself through this if it's "torture," Popovich said pregame, "That's why I always say coaches are sick puppies." Popovich, on his Finals media sessions, "The questions are so incisive and well thought out, how can one not enjoy the challenge of trying to find the answer?"

Popovich, on his offseason plans, "I think vacation is overrated. I mean, I'll take some time, I'll walk the streets some place and I'll travel and I'll spend time with my family in other places. But after a little while just getting up when you want to in the morning and really not having challenges gets a little boring. You can only grow so many tomatoes and read so many books. You want to get busy, get competitive again."

Popovich, on Pat Riley's view that there's winning or there's misery, "You might think he's being disingenuous, but he's being very, very honest. You've heard it before. Winning is relief and losses are torture and misery. So why do you do it? I already told you, we're sick puppies."